`It's the olive branch,' was Stalky's comment. `It's the giddy white flag, by gum! Come to think of it, we have metagrobolised 'em.'
Just after tea that day, Mr. Prout sent for them to say that if they chose to ruin their future by neglecting their work, it was entirely their own affair. He wished them, however, to understand that their presence in the form-rooms could not be tolerated one hour longer. He personally did not care to think of the time he must spend in eliminating the traces of their evil influences. How far Beetle had pandered to the baser side of youthful imagination he would ascertain later; and Beetle might be sure that if Mr. Prout came across any soul-corrupting consequences--
`Consequences of what, sir?' said Beetle, genuinely bewildered this time; and M`Turk quietly kicked him on the ankle for being `fetched' by Prout.
Beetle, the house-master continued, knew very well what was intended. Evil and brief had been their careers under his eye; and as one standing in loco parentis to their yet uncontaminated associates, he was bound to take his precautions. The return of the study key closed the sermon.
`But what was the baser-side-of-imagination business?' said Beetle on the stairs.
`I never knew such an ass as you are for justifyin' yourself,' said M`Turk. `I hope I jolly well skinned your ankle. Why do you let yourself be drawn by everybody?'
`Draws be blowed! I must have tickled him up in some way I didn't know about. If I'd had a notion of that before, of course I could have rubbed it in better. It's too late now. What a pity! "Baser side." What was he drivin' at?'
`Never mind,' said Stalky. `I knew we could make it a happy little house. I said so, remember--but I swear I didn't think we'd do it so soon.'
`No,' said Prout most firmly in Common-room.
`I maintain that Gillett is wrong. True, I let them return to their study.'
`With your known views on cribbing, too?' purred little Hartopp. `What an immoral compromise!'
`One moment,' said the Reverend John. `I--we--all of us have exercised an absolutely heartbreaking discretion for the last ten days. Now we want to know. Confess--have you known a happy minute since--'
`As regards my house, I have not,' said Prout. `But you are entirely wrong in your estimate of those boys. In justice to the others--in selfdefence--'
`Ha! I said it would come that,' murmured the Reverend John.
`--I was forced to send them back. Their moral influence was unspeakable--simply unspeakable.'
And bit by bit he told his tale, beginning with Beetle's usury, and ending with the house-prefect's appeal.
`Beetle in the rôle of Shylock is new to me,' said King, with twitching lips. `I heard rumours of it--'
`Before!' said Prout.
`No, after you had dealt with them; but I was careful not to inquire. I never interfere with--'
`I myself,' said Hartopp, `would cheerfully give him five shillings if he could work out one simple sum in compound interest without three gross errors.'
`Why--why--why!' Mason, the mathe- matical master, stuttered, a fierce joy on his face.